(Note: this post was originally published on September 18, 2019. It has since been updated with new photos and some tweaks).
Do you ever struggle with the times in between seasons? Sometimes I feel like September is caught between two worlds; it's certainly not summer, but it's not really fall yet either. So I find myself wondering: what is the ideal September cocktail?
This gin and tonic riff is the perfect sip for the transitional period from late summer through early/mid fall. Figs (one of my all-time favorite fruits!) usually come into season in late August and stick around through mid-October, so they coincide perfectly with this in-between time.
The beauty of this fig-infused honey gin cocktail lies in its balance. The figs are seductive and fruity while the honey is floral and sweet. A sprig of fresh thyme adds some woodsy fall aromas, and it's all overlain on a fresh yet complex gin and tonic base. Just like an early fall day with warm sunshine that gives way to a crisp night, this fig cocktail is all about unifying those different moods.
There are a number of classic, historical honey cocktails (and especially honey gin cocktails) that this recipe borrows from. The most well-known is the prohibition-era Bee's Knees, which combines gin, lemon juice, and honey. My Ginger Bee's Knees is a fall-appropriate riff on the classic that uses aged gin and adds in a ginger simple syrup. Some other classic honey cocktails are the Gold Rush, the Brown Derby, and the Penicillin. And while decidedly not classic, my whimsical Ginnie The Pooh also uses honey.
If you've ever tried to use honey in a cocktail before, you've likely noticed that it's hard to mix. Honey is very viscous, so it wants to sink to the bottom rather than mix into your drink. That's why, for most honey cocktails, you'll want to use a honey simple syrup instead of straight honey. Keep reading to learn about this easy yet transformative technique for getting all that floral honey flavor into your glass.
This fig cocktail relies upon a simple syrup to get all that wonderful, decadent fig flavor into a drinkable form. If you've never made a simple syrup before, don't be intimidated. It's actually really easy to do at home, and a simple syrup keeps great in the fridge for weeks.
Generally speaking, a simple syrup is just a 1:1 mixture of sugar and water, cooked down until it becomes thick and syrupy. It's a great way to capture flavors that are difficult to get into a liquid form otherwise. Because figs aren't very juicy, they're not easy to add to a cocktail (and although you could add fig puree, the resulting cocktail would look murky). In this recipe, you'll make the simple syrup with honey instead of granulated sugar, so it's a double-whammy in terms of the flavors it will add to the drink.
A simple syrup is easy and quick to make. Here, because we're using honey instead of sugar, we'll start with a mixture of honey and water. Add your flavorings (in this case fresh figs) and cook it over a low simmer until the liquid has reduced significantly. You want to end up with a rich, thick liquid that will coat the back of a spoon (but not too thick; otherwise it will be difficult to incorporate into a cocktail). Strain the simple syrup through a fine-mesh sieve, then store it in a sealed jar in the fridge. It will keep for a few weeks, so don't hesitate to make a big batch so that you can mix this fig and honey gin cocktail again and again all season long.
Here's what you'll need for this honey cocktail recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
Because the flavors in this cocktail are delicate and versatile, you can pair it with a wide variety of different dishes. It goes well with either summer fare or fall fare, and excels most with meals that involve herbs and/or fruit. Can't you envision sipping this on the deck on a warm September evening, maybe alongside some bountiful late-summer salads?
This fig and honey gin cocktail is an ode to the magic of late summer days and my most favorite seasonal treat: fresh figs! They're an ingredient that you can only get a couple months out of the year, and to me they epitomize the beauty of super-seasonal eating. If you haven't fallen in love with figs yet, I hope this cocktail will convert you.
Enjoy these last few gorgeous bits of summer, sipping one of these fig cocktails and soaking up the sun while you still can.
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
As with all my cocktail recipes, please enjoy responsibly!
Bursting with sweet honey and juicy figs, this gin and tonic riff is the perfect sip for late summer and early fall. Look at the color of this gorgeous fig cocktail!
For the Honey Fig Simple Syrup
For the Cocktail
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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